Arts & Culture

You’re invited to celebrate the holiday season with Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village! Get a head start on your Christmas shopping at BNHV’s first Holiday Extravaganza, taking place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the newly-renovated museum store. Shoppers will find many unique items including block-printed silk scarves, artisan pottery, Audubon items, toys, books, glassware, holiday ornaments, sterling silver jewelry from artist Sarah Kieffer and more. Work from BNHV’s own quilt, weavers, lace and blacksmith guilds will also be featured during the event.

October 23, 2015 MEDINA, NY - Irish tenor, recording artist, physician, and champion disabled athlete Ronan Tynan moves audiences like few others can. His stirring performances and personal story of triumph have brought him international fame. The New York Times called him “the closest thing this country has to an official meistersinger.”

“The Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc. is both pleased and proud to be bringing this world-class performer to Western New York,” said Chris Busch, President of ORG. “We are equally thrilled to be hold this landmark concert event in historic St. Mary Church– a soaring gothic beauty and an old Irish parish.”

The concert will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at St. Mary RC Church, Medina.

Christmas in the Country has been recognized as the #1 Contemporary and Classic Artisan Market in the nation by Sunshine Artist magazine, the leading publication in the art and craft event industry. Perennially ranked as one of the top five events in the nation, Christmas in the Country celebrates its 31st anniversary in 2015 and annually draws almost 60,000 visitors over four days. The event has grown from a modest quilt show to a marketplace of over 400 artisans from across the country and features only handcrafted goods for holiday shoppers.

The Ladies were a bit reluctant to attend the first Erie County Fair, in 1841, so officials announced: "Constables will be on grounds to preserve order and the visits of the ladies will be welcomed to the exhibition."

Thus reassured, the ladies tied on there bonnets, and sallied forth. They even attended the plowing matches, one of the main attractions of early fairs, and it was reported "more than 2,000 people gathered in carriages and on horseback. A great many ladies, lured by delicious weather and the interest of the occasion, graced the attendance, adding interest and brilliancy to the scene." Even in those days the ladies did not like to miss any of the fun.

Now that summer is finally here, where you can you escape for an inexpensive but life-affirming getaway on less than a tank of gas? All roads lead to nearby London, Ontario, and TD Sunfest, where for four admission-free days (July 9-12) you can savor the sights, sounds and tastes of Cuba, Scotland, Ukraine and beyond.

Drums Along the Waterfront Tour of Champions is excited to bring the top eight drum corps in the world to Western New York. The event will be held from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, and all of the corps will be staying at local high schools as they prepare for the big event.